macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install bamlocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install bamMacPorts ports tree · devel/bam/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install bam with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper
Build system that uses Lua to describe the build process. Version 0.5.1 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add bamAlpine Linux edge package indexes · bam · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install bamDebian stable package indexes · bam · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install bamFedora Rawhide package metadata · bam · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#bamnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/ba/bam/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S bamArch Linux sync databases · bam · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install bamopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · bam · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Build system that uses Lua to describe the build process
Project links
Commands and aliases
- bam
history
Project history and usage
bam is a small C build tool that uses Lua as its build-description language. It belongs to the family of lightweight, scriptable build systems that appeal to package maintainers because the build logic lives in a normal programming language rather than in generated makefiles.
Project history
The public Git history for bam dates to October 2008, and the project documentation describes it as a fast build system with flexible Lua build scripts. The manual copyright line dates the manual to 2010, and the project has remained centered on a single executable that reads a default bam.lua build script.
The 0.5.x line modernized the embedded scripting environment by moving from Lua 5.1 to Lua 5.3.3 and added reproducible-build-oriented changes such as avoiding timestamps in the executable.
Adoption history
In package-manager terms, bam is a niche but broadly carried build tool: the supplied package facts list packages in Homebrew, Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch, MacPorts, Nix, Alpine, and openSUSE-style ecosystems. That breadth reflects its occasional role as a build dependency for projects that chose bam over make, CMake, or SCons.
How it is used
A bam project normally provides a bam.lua script. The built-in command-line help in the official source sets bam.lua as the default script file and allows another script to be selected with -s.
The README's quick example shows the usual style: create settings, collect source files, compile them, and link the resulting objects using Lua functions exposed by bam.
Why package nerds care
bam is interesting to package maintainers because it is both a build tool and often itself a build-time bootstrap dependency. Its Lua-based model puts it near SCons and Premake culturally, but its small C implementation and zlib license make it simpler to vendor or package than larger build frameworks.
Timeline
- 2008: Public Git history begins in the official repository.
- 2010: v0.4.0 is tagged and the manual is published with a 2010 copyright line.
- 2016: v0.5.0 upgrades the embedded Lua runtime to 5.3.3 and improves reproducible build behavior.
- 2016: v0.5.1 fixes compiler-environment handling and adds additional platform/compiler support.
Related projects
- bam is related to other scriptable build tools such as SCons and Premake, and to lower-level build runners such as make and Ninja. Its distinguishing feature is a compact C implementation paired with Lua build descriptions.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: yellow
generalized runtime or code generation signal.
Risk classifier
yellow risk · medium confidence · runtime
Why
- generalized runtime or code generation signal
Signals
- text:build system
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 13 platform targets.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
local files
Configuration and credential file locations
These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.
Configuration files
Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.
- Unix
./bam.lua
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
bam | cli | global executable |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-07-08
manager version0.5.1
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamcurrent
latest detectedv0.5.1
https://github.com/matricks/bam
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:bam |
|---|---|
| Version | 0.5.1 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/bam |
| Homepage | https://matricks.github.io/bam/ |
| Repository | https://github.com/matricks/bam |
| Upstream docs | https://matricks.github.io/bam |
| License | Zlib |
| Source archive | https://github.com/matricks/bam/archive/refs/tags/v0.5.1.tar.gz |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, catalina, monterey, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | bam |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Head Version | HEAD |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
bam 0.5.1-3+b1
fast and flexible build system
https://matricks.github.com/bam/
sudo apt install bam- Section: devel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: bam
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bam
Nix95%
bam
nix profile install nixpkgs#bam- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bam
Ubuntu apt95%
bam 0.5.1-3
fast and flexible build system
https://matricks.github.com/bam/
sudo apt install bam- Section: universe/devel
- Architecture: amd64
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bam
apk95%
bam 0.5.1-r5
Fast and flexible build system using Lua
https://github.com/matricks/bam
sudo apk add bam- License: Zlib
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: bam
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bam
dnf95%
bam 0.5.1-20.fc44
A build-system
http://matricks.github.com/bam/
sudo dnf install bam- License: zlib
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: bam
- 3 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bam
pacman95%
bam 0.5.1-3
A fast and flexible build system using Lua
https://github.com/matricks/bam
sudo pacman -S bam- License: ZLIB
- Architecture: x86_64
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bam
zypper95%
bam 0.5.1-5.10
Lua-based build system
https://github.com/matricks/bam
sudo zypper install bam- License: Zlib
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: bam
- 2 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bam
MacPorts95%
bam
sudo port install bam- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Bam
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- Nucleus package database
- av.db category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment